Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' data‑driven opinion column where Nick Wright dissects the Premier League’s most pressing narratives. This week the focus is on Arsenal’s faltering attack and the tactical dilemmas facing Mikel Arteta as his side prepares for a decisive clash with Manchester City. Arsenal entered the Champions League quarter‑final second leg against Sporting with a comfortable first‑leg cushion, allowing them to retreat behind a disciplined defensive shell on Wednesday. The Gunners showed the solidity that has become a hallmark of Arteta’s side, weathering Sporting’s pressure and securing a place in the last four.
The video player works best in Chrome, so viewers are advised to switch browsers for optimal access. While the defensive display was commendable, the match also highlighted the glaring deficiencies in Arsenal’s forward play.
Their attack has been erratic all season, and the Sporting game was a stark reminder that without a clear offensive solution, even a six‑point Premier League lead may not be enough to stave off a relentless City side. The onus, of course, remains on Manchester City to win, but Arsenal cannot rely solely on a defensive fortress when they face a team that thrives on possession and quick transitions. Arteta’s tactical philosophy has come under intense scrutiny. Critics argue that his cautious approach, which favours compactness over creativity, has stifled the Gunners’ natural flair.
Has he sacrificed open‑play chance creation for set‑piece efficiency? Does the team lean too heavily on its backline, leaving the front three to flounder? These questions have become part of the weekly conversation among fans and pundits alike.
Injuries have further narrowed Arteta’s options. Bukayo Saka is confirmed out for Sunday’s league encounter, and Martin Ødegaard remains doubtful. The midfield is also missing key contributors, which forces Artetta to reshuffle his attacking unit.
For the second consecutive match, he deployed a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres – a combination that has produced little cohesion. The trio has started together in six games, winning only two, one of which was a narrow Carabao Cup semi‑final victory over Chelsea that required a late substitute goal from Kai Havertz. Individually, each forward possesses a potent skill set. Martinelli’s dribbling, Madueke’s pace, and Gyökeres’s physical presence have combined for 36 goals this season.
Yet when they are all on the pitch simultaneously, Arsenal often lack the technical composure to retain possession high up the field. Declan Rice summed up the problem after the Sporting match: “It’s about doing the basics to a better level, just the five, ten‑yard passes that we’re giving away a bit sloppily.” His midfield partner, Martin Zubimendi, added that the team has “lacked a little bit of clarity in the final third.” Statistical analysis underlines the issue. Opta data shows Gyökeres has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, with only 566 touches – a loss rate of 43.5%, the second‑worst among outfield players.
Martinelli and Madueke are not far behind, with loss rates of 38.9% and 36.1% respectively. By contrast, no Manchester City player exceeds a 30% loss rate.
Gyökeres completed just five of nine passes against Sporting, while Martinelli and Madueke each surrendered the ball 12 and 17 times in that game. The tide turned when Arteta introduced his substitutes. Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Downey and Gabriel Jesus combined for an 89% pass‑completion rate, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession in Sporting’s half during the closing minutes. Their technical proficiency demonstrated what the starting trio lacked: composure, vision and the ability to link play.
Looking ahead to the Etihad, Arsenal will need a similar level of control if they hope to avoid a repeat of the second‑half onslaught that saw them overwhelmed in last month’s Carabao Cup final against City. Pep Guardiola’s flexible pressing system – sometimes high, sometimes dropping deep – forced Arsenal’s backline to sit deep while his front four blocked passing lanes, funneling the ball to a target man who struggled to retain possession. Gyökeres, in particular, was unable to hold the ball under pressure. Arteta may be forced to reconsider his selection, especially with Madueke listed as doubtful after a knee knock against Sporting.
The Gunners could benefit from Havertz’s return to a more central role. The 26‑year‑old has endured an injury‑marred season but has shown flashes of his former self.
In the first leg of the Sporting tie, he not only scored the decisive goal but also won three aerial duels – more than any other player on the pitch – and provided an assist for Eberechi Eze. He completed 15 passes, three times more than Gyökeres, underscoring his superior ball‑retention abilities. Historically, Havertz has proven his worth against City. He scored the winner in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph over Manchester United and starred in Arsenal’s 5‑1 demolition of the Citizens at the Emirates in February 2023, setting up Ødegaard’s opener and netting the fourth himself.
In that match he completed 26 of 28 passes and again won the most aerial duels on the field. Deploying him as a focal point on Sunday could give Arsenal the balance they have missed, while allowing Gyökeres to impact as an impact sub against tired legs. Beyond personnel, Arsenal’s leadership dynamics have also shifted.
Declan Rice has captained the side in the last two fixtures, while former captain Granit Xhaka, now at Aston Villa under Unai Emery, is set to face his old manager – the very coach who stripped him of the armband in 2019. Xhaka’s recent return from an ankle injury has revitalised Villa, who have improved their points‑per‑game average from 1.0 to 1.5 when he starts.
His ball‑playing ability, evident in his high touch count and pass volume, could serve as a case study for what Arsenal lack in midfield creativity. Other Premier League storylines mentioned in the column include Tyrique George’s limited minutes at Everton, his speed and directness off the bench, and speculation about his potential role in Liverpool’s counter‑attacking plans for the upcoming Merseyside derby.
The schedule also highlights upcoming fixtures: Spurs versus Brighton, a Super Sunday line‑up featuring Villa vs Sunderland, Everton vs Liverpool and Forest vs Burnley, and Monday Night Football’s Crystal Palace versus West Ham clash. In summary, Arsenal’s defensive resilience remains a strength, but their attacking unit is still searching for a coherent identity. Whether Arteta opts for a more conservative line‑up, introduces Havertz as a target man, or reshuffles the front three, the key will be improving ball retention and decision‑making in the final third. With a six‑point cushion at the top of the table, the Gunners can afford a measured approach, but against a quality opponent like Manchester City, a lack of offensive firepower could prove costly.
The upcoming match will be a litmus test for Arteta’s tactical flexibility and his ability to adapt his personnel to the demands of high‑stakes football.